A local author is hoping her book will help people get into the holiday spirit.
Aprille Willemse will be signing copies of her book Bethlehem's First Christmas on Saturday at Degroot's Nurseries from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
She wrote the children's Christmas book when she was expecting her first child 10 years ago, and said it's about the night of Jesus's birth, from the innkeeper's daughter's perspective.
"I was pregnant with my son, it was Christmas Eve and I was at home and I began to wonder what kind of night it must have been like and who would've helped Mary," said Willemse. "And then I thought why has nobody ever thought about a midwife, what that would've been like for her."
She said she never thought it would actually come to fruition.
"I wrote the book 10 years ago, but then I set it aside because getting an illustrator can be very expensive," said Willemse. "So, for years it kind of sat on my computer and about two years ago I pulled it out and I thought well I've learned so much with Photoshop and different kinds of software, maybe I myself can do the illustrations."
Willemse said with the help of different software programs, her two children are featured in the book.
Her book is available at the Book Keeper at Northgate Plaza and COLE's at Lambton Mall.
"So far it's sold out a few times, so I thank people for that support, it means a lot to me," said Willemse. "And it also comes with a teacher's lesson plan, and a gift tag that you can print off."
